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hornie2, horny noun a policeman: ‘It’s the hornies...they say we’ve to move on. 19-. etymology: perhaps a development from Scots horny ‘the Devil’; or possibly a shortening of Romany hok-hornie-mush also hok-horri-mush with the same meaning; attested by Galloway, Perthshire and Argyleshire Tinkler-Gypsies, BS in TDITA, JS and BW; also collected by EMcC/PS, RD and by Joseph F G S Lucas from Kirk Yetholm Gypsies note:

Smart & Crofton (1875) collected Hórno adective, ‘angry’ from English Gypsies and there may be a connection with the above.

Canadian Paul Pope (2013) attests the form hornie with the same meaning.